In Our Own Time (2/?)
"She knows there is a world out there that she longs to know more of, but she fears that she won’t ever see further than her mother’s near-sighted ideals."
(Please Note: Spoilers for the general concept of OUAT but no plot specifics. Spoilers for Season One of Hawaii Five-0)
Link to Part One
September 2010...
The next morning, Danny starts his day with a large, hot coffee and some of those amazing little donut things they sell down the street from Steve’s place. He’s sure they’re available other places too but he hasn’t had time since arriving on the island to suss that kind of thing out. He pushes open Steve’s front door (which Danny’s told him at least a half dozen times to lock) and makes his way through the house, balancing Steve’s straight black on top of his delicious caramel and holding the bag of doughnuts between his teeth. He’s about to drop the bag onto the table when Steve barges in, yelling. Danny freezes until he realises it isn’t him that’s being yelled at but someone on the other end of Steve’s cell phone. Danny drops the bag of pastry on the table with a thud.
“No, listen to me, Governor. You said this was my team, my people. I could hire who I wanted. I want Danny Williams. I want him, Ma’am. As far as I’m concerned, the application process was more for Danny’s file and long-term standing. Believe me, his Captain is very sorry to be losing him. He’s got an incredible solve rate and we are, no, Hawaii is lucky to have him.”
Danny is stunned. He hasn’t heard Steve string so many words together in all the time they’ve been working together, and this he gathers is all for his benefit. He watches, captivated by the angry frown on his soon-to-be partner’s face and the tense line of his shoulders.
“Babe?”
“We are being stonewalled, Danny,” Steve slams his phone down on the table.
“We are? Because it sounds like it’s just me at this point.”
Steve sighs heavily. “Did you do something to piss the governor off in the six months you’ve been here?”
“Steve, I had never given so much as a thought to the governor before a certain someone stood in his garage, pulled out his cell phone and called her in front of me.” Danny sits down on one of the dining chairs and opens his bag of doughnuts, although they’ve now lost a lot of their appeal. Steve sits to his left.
“Then I don’t understand her objection. She never specified the number of taskforce members and your salary is well within the operating budget. She didn’t object to Chin-Ho despite the rumours surrounding him, and she wasn’t concerned that Kono was completely inexperienced.”
“Well now I feel like shit, I don’t even want these doughnut things.” He pushes the bag to Steve who shakes his head.
“Malasadas,” he corrects absently.
“Whatever,” Danny stands, pushing his chair back and picking up his coffee. “Well, I guess I’d better head back to the 7th and talk to my Captain. If the governor won’t approve my transfer then I assume I still have a job there. I’d say it’s been fun but… Steve, I don’t even know what to say.” With a rueful attempt at a smile, Danny turns away.
“Danny, I…” Steve watches helplessly as the man he wants for his partner walks out of his house. “No,” he says to himself. “This is not happening.” He picks his phone back up and punches in a now familiar number. “This is McGarrett,” he says when the governor’s assistant answers. “I want an appointment with Ms Jameson. This morning.”
* * *
“Commander McGarrett. I can’t say this is a surprise.” Governor Jameson stands behind her desk and reaches for Steve’s hand.
“With all due respect, Ma’am,” Steve stands at parade rest and makes no move to shake the governor’s hand. “You know why I am here and I think I deserve a real answer. You want a taskforce who can keep Hawaii safe and I want to know why you don’t think Detective Williams is good enough. He was instrumental in tracking and apprehending Victor Hesse. He murdered my father, Governor. Do you think I wouldn’t have the best possible people working that case with me?”
“Are you finished?”
“That depends what you have to say, Ma’am.” Steve makes eye contact with her for the first time, frowning.
“My objection to Detective Williams is not your concern, Commander.”
“You told me that…”
“No, listen to me, Commander. Williams is not an option. End of discussion.”
“Very well then.” Steve snaps to attention. “I’d like to take this chance to tender my resignation as leader of your taskforce, Governor. Effective immediately I will return to Naval Intelligence. I have some leads into the organised crime of Hawaii and can continue to pursue it for the good of the state and the extensive Naval operations based here. Ma’am.” Steve nods and turns on his heel, walking briskly towards the door.
“Wait.”
Steve stops. He holds his breath. There is no way that this could have worked. There is now way the Governor isn’t going to call his bluff, at least for a little while. Because it is a bluff. He can return to the Navy but it isn’t what he wants at this point. He wants this taskforce.
He wants Danny.
Steve turns back to the governor but doesn’t move closer. “Ma’am?”
“You report to me. Bi-weekly and any additional times I call.”
“Agreed. And Detective Williams?”
The governor sighs. “I can see you aren’t going to let this go, Steven.”
“No, Ma’am. I’m not.”
Very well then. Will that be all, Commander? I have people waiting.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Thank you, Ma’am.” Steve turns on his heel again and walks out the door. It isn’t until it is firmly closed behind him that he allows himself to relax, leaning briefly against the wall while he regathers his wits. He’s faced terrorists and disarmed IEDs and been less nervous than he was just now.
For some reason, having Williams as his partner has become the most important thing to him and he is yet to work out why. He just knows that it is right.“
* * *
Once Upon A Time...
“Mother I wish you’d allow me to travel into the village today,” the beautiful young woman frowns and pulls away from the maid brushing her hair. “It’s so tiresome sitting here all day.”
“But the rumours around the county are that His Majesty may be returning today. He may call in here, my dear, and seek your father's confidence again. You wouldn’t want to be out if he does. Make the locks smoother, Flora. Her hair should shine.”
“You’ve been saying that for a week now,” the woman huffs. “There is no joy in this at all.”
Her mother grabs her daughter’s cheeks and forcefully turns her face so she is mere inches away. “Listen to me, young lady. You are to stop spending your time daydreaming and thinking about frivolous things like joy and the ‘living of life’ you are so fond of mentioning. Your place is to be beautiful and to marry well so our family can continue to prosper in the community.”
“I’m not ready to marry, Mother. I want to see the world and then when the time comes, find someone whom I can love. Then I will marry.”
“What we want from our life and what we have are two very different things my dear and it would serve you well to accept that sooner than later. You’ll not go to town and that is final.”
“But I…”
“Enough, Marian! Not another word. Flora, see to it that my daughter does not stray from her room today.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” the maid curtseys nervously.
When her mother has left, Marian slouches back in her chair and looks out her window, down the road towards the village and the forest that lies beyond. She knows there is a world out there that she longs to know more of, but she fears that she won’t ever see further than her mother’s near-sighted ideals.
(Link to Part Three)
I don't own Hawaii Five-0, Once Upon A Time or Enchanted(Images).